On The Fly

July 23, 2013

Michigan coach Brady Hoke probably won't get a big hand when he and his Wolverines invade Rentschler Field Sept. 21, but he should. You see, Hoke has done the unbelievable by inviting and offering tickets to an Ohio State fan to "The Game" played annually between Ohio State and Michigan. This year the game is in Ann Arbor, and 12-year old Grant Reed will be there as a Michigan guest. And now the unprecedented: Reed had cancer and named it "Michigan." He beat it. Reed's father, Troy, told a Columbus, Ohio, TV station that his son completed his final chemotherapy treatment a couple of weeks ago."It's getting hard to keep my dislike for them," Troy Reed told the station, "because they've been so classy and unbelievable to us." After finding out that Reed named his tumor "Michigan," Hoke offered support and told Sports Illustrated: "Just this once I was glad to see someone beating 'Michigan.'"

Former Ohio State center and knee-surgery pro Greg Oden is working out for the NBA champion Heat, the NBA champion runner-up Spurs and New Orleans Pelicans this week, according to ESPN.com. The interest between the Heat and Oden is reportedly mutually strong. That would be a good deal for Miami, which badly needs a defensive presence inside. Oden hasn't played in a game since 2009. His last knee surgery was 17 months ago.

Emile Griffith, the world boxing champion whose career was overshadowed by the fatal beating he gave Benny Paret in a 1962 title bout that darkened all of boxing, died Tuesday at 75.

We go back to Ohio State for this one: Head football coach Urban Meyer has disciplined four players for legal problems, including the suspension of leading-scorer Carlos Hyde from all team activities in the aftermath of an alleged assault against a female over the weekend in Columbus. When does this kind of stuff stop? At least Meyer got on this one early. … The Louisville Cardinals, the NCAA men's basketball champions, were honored Tuesday at the White House. ... Look out! The Jets have brought in journeyman kicker Billy Cundiff, 33, to challenge Nick Folk. The Jets are the 12th team that Cundiff has signed with in his career.